Loose leaf metal ring construction



Aug 19, 1958 A. J. PlsANo 2,847,998

LoosE LEAF METAL RING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 7, 1955 HTTOPNE YS 2,847,998 Patented Aug. 19, 1958 LOOSE LEAF METAL RTN@ CONSTRUCTION Albert J. Pisano, St. Louis, Mo. Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,405 2 Claims. (Cl. 129-1) The present invention relates to a loose leaf metal ring construction.

Heretofore, most loose leaf metal rings have been made of rod stock with two half rings each pivotally mounted on a base, and spring actuated so that they can snap into closing engagement under heavy pressure.

The present invention is intended to provide a very much less expensive ring construction which can be made of a single sheet metal stamping. Therefore, it eliminates many parts and operates without the necessity of complicated and costly spring elements. According to this invention, each ring consists of a single element having a base portion and an integral ring portion. The ring extends from one end of the base in an arc over the base to the other end, Whereat it can latch onto a hook that is an integral part of the base. The ring may be attached to the inside of the back edge of a binder without requiring any modification of the binder, by riveting its base portion thereto.

Objects of the invention include those necessary to provide a ring as aforesaid. Other objects include the provision of such a ring that is essentially in one piece, and yet which has a suliicient amount of spring to it that it may be snapped into closed position or released into open position.

Another object is to provide such a ring with means to stabilize it in place so that it cannot slip or move or swivel about its rivet.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a ring which may be made out of flat stock, and which may be initially shipped in substantially fiat condition.

Other objects will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a binder containing two rings and several sheets, the binder 'being opened but the rings being closed;

Figure 2 is a close-up plan view of one of the rings in place on a binder, without sheets;

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the ring taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the broken line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In Figure 1, a binder is shown at 10, it having a back edge 11 which supports two rings 12 and 13. A plurality of sheets 14 and 15 is shown on the rings.

In Figures 2 through 5, the ring 13 is shown in detail. It is formed of a single piece of sheet metal, or the like, shaped to provide a somewhat widened and at base portion 16, wide enough and long enough to provide a stable support for the ring. One end of the base portion has an upset hook end 17 which may be made slightly con- -vex to give it added rigidity. The middle of the base portion 16 has a hole 19 to receive a rivet 20, by means of which the device may be secured to the back edge 11 of the binder. To one side of the rivet hole 19 two prongs 21 are struck downwardly from the metal of the base 16. They are pointed, as is illustrated, so that they may penetrate the back edge 11 of the binder and hold the ring assembly against swiveling about the rivet.

Beyond the prongs 21 the metal is curved in an arcuate ring shape to provide the main ring portion 22. This ring portion is something over in extent, and is preferably made concavo-convex so as to have added rigidity and resilience. It extends around from the left end of the base portion 16 to the right end, and has a hole 23 at its free end, which may be snapped over and locked against the latching prong or hook 17 on the opposite end of the base 16. The metal is suiiciently resilient to cause the ring portion 22 to attempt to unwind and, therefore, to bind tightly in under the hook 17.

In use, an appropriate number of these rings will be fastened to the binder. To fasten them, the base portion 16 is placed against the inside of the back edge 11 of the binder and located in proper place, so that the rivet may be put into its position. The prongs 21 are driven into the back 11 of the binder, and the rivet 20 is secured in place. Thereafter, the device is irmly attached against withdrawal or twisting. Then the ring portion 22 may easily be bent around the left edge of the base in Figure 3 land locked over the hook 17. The normal spring-back of the ring portion 22 causes it to latch tightly.

To open the ring for removal or adding of sheets, it is necessary only to depress the top of the ring and to pull its free end off of the hook 17. Normally, it will then spring away from the hooks sufficiently to permit sheets to be added. If this does not occur, the ring may be pulled upwardly to give suicient space, which action also increases the securing of the hooking action.

What is claimed is:

1. A loose leaf binder ring, comprising a single piece of resilient sheet material, including a relatively wide base portion adapted to overlie the edge of a loose leaf binder, a relatively narrow ring part of generally semi-circular shape having one end integrally connected to and extending from a side edge of the base portion, and extending in a ring-like shape above and across the base portion so that its other end normally rests adjacent but slightly above the opposite side edge of the base portion; a hook part integrally formed with and extending from the said opposite side edge in alignment with the ring part, the hook part extending upwardly and outwardly from the base portion so that its free end projects upwardly toward, and outwardly beyond, the overhanging end of the ring part, the said free end being curved downwardly at its tip; and the overhanging end of the ring part having a recess, the ring part normally being shaped to position, its tip somewhat above the tip of the hook part and spaced inward from the downturned tip thereof to admit insertion of sheets onto the ring part, but being resilient to enable the overhanging end to be depressed against the downturned end of the hook part, and thereby be deformed over the said hook part to cause the recess to receive and latch.

2. The ring of claim 1, wherein the base portion has a rivet-receiving hole through it, and an integral prong extending downwardly from the surface thereof to stabilize the base against swivelling around a rivet disposed in the rivet hole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,410 Landsberg et al. Aug. 28, 1917 1,895,972 Childs Ian. 31, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,245 Great Britain Feb. 6, .1.93.9i 

